(Posted 8/3/06) The AVMA, American Veterinary Medical
Association, has once again disappointed animal welfare activists. At
their recent annual meeting the AVMA, representing veterinarians across
the United States, refused to place animal welfare over the economic
interests of agribusiness.

Farm Sanctuary had introduced a resolution stating that
"veterinarians have an ethical obligation to promote animal welfare.”
However, the AVMA counteracted this resolution with one of their own in
which they support "responsible use of animals for human purposes"
without defining what is “responsible.” Farm Sanctuary had been urging
the AVMA not to support "irresponsible" farming systems, including the
severe confinement of pregnant sows in gestation crates and calves in
veal crates, crowded battery cages for egg-laying hens and the brutal
force-feeding of ducks for foie gras, which the AVMA denied. The
American Veterinary Medical Association has failed farm animals and
those who are concerned about them.

Clarification: (posted 8/10/06)
Regarding last week’s news about the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) and their resolution to place animal welfare
interests over economic ones, proposed by Farm Sanctuary at this year’s
AVMA annual meeting, was not rejected or “disapproved” as was reported
in the AVMA Annual Convention News. Instead, the AVMA House of
Delegates, which votes on the resolutions, referred it to the AVMA
Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) and a counter resolution (#8) was instead
approved.